vice
vice Lexical Profile
vice Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A relatively minor bad habit, personal weakness, or indulgence.
"Drinking a large cup of heavily sweetened coffee every morning is his only vice."
Immoral or wicked behavior; a serious moral failing or flaw in character.
"The novel explores the corruption and vice that plagued the city during the era of prohibition."
British A mechanical apparatus with two parallel jaws, one fixed and the other movable, used to hold an object firmly in place while work is done upon it.
"He secured the block of oak in the vice before carefully beginning to carve the intricate details."
• preposition
In the place of; as a substitute for.
"She was appointed to the executive board vice the retiring director."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the mechanical gripping tool, it is spelled 'vise' in American English and 'vice' in British English; however, 'vice' is the standard spelling across all regions when referring to a moral failing or bad habit.
• Rhymes for vice
Word Origin & Etymology
The noun denoting a moral failing comes from Latin 'vitium' (defect, offense). The preposition derives from the Latin ablative 'vice' (in place of), from 'vicis' (change, turn). The tool's name stems from Old French 'vis' (screw), tracing back to Latin 'vitis' (vine), inspired by the spiral shape of a vine tendril.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.